Nathaniel is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. Its meaning can be translated to "gift of God." The name Nathaniel is composed of two elements: "natán" which means "gift," and "él" which signifies "God."
The name Nathaniel is mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, where it is borne by one of Jesus' twelve apostles. According to biblical accounts, Nathanael (also known as Bartholomew) was a Jew from Cana who recognized Jesus as the Messiah after he had witnessed him perform several miracles.
Throughout history, many notable individuals have been named Nathaniel. Some examples include Nathaniel Hawthorne, an American novelist and short story writer of the 19th century, famous for his tales of the supernatural; Nathaniel Gow, a Scottish fiddler and composer of the late 18th to early 19th centuries; and Nathaniel Rogers, one of the earliest English settlers in North America.
In popular culture, Nathaniel has been used as characters' names in various books, movies, and TV shows. For instance, Nathanael West was a pseudonym used by American novelist and screenwriter Henry KUTNER for his novel "The Day of the Locust," published in 1939. Additionally, the name Nathaniel has been used prominently in works like "The Secret Garden" by Frances Hodgson Burnett, and in TV shows such as "Nathaniel Philbrick's Sea of Glory" based on the book of the same name.
As a given name, Nathaniel has seen fluctuating popularity over time. It was among the top 1000 names for boys in the United States during most of the mid-20th century but dipped below that threshold briefly before regaining popularity in recent decades. Today, it is once again a popular choice for parents looking to give their sons a name with biblical roots and a rich historical legacy.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Nathael has seen a steady increase in popularity over the past few decades in the United States.
In 2007, there were 5 recorded births with the name Nathael. This number remained consistent for over a decade, as there were also 5 births in 2018. However, recently, there has been an notable rise in the popularity of this name, with 8 babies being named Nathael in just one year, 2023.
Overall, from 2007 to 2023, a total of 18 babies have been named Nathael in the United States. This shows that while it may not be one of the most popular names, Nathael has gained some traction and is now being chosen for more newborns than before.